Our actions in Cambodia

Passerelles numériques Cambodia was the first project to be launched in 2005, in Phnom Penh. PNC offers two IT training programs in System and Network Administration (SNA) and Web Development (WEP), based on a holistic educative approach including technical and soft skills, and a personal development program.

Context

In Cambodia, a society still traumatized by a long lasting civil war and the Khmer Rouge tragedy, 40.2% of the active population survives with less than $2 USD a day. As a consequence, many young Cambodians must drop their studies, move to neighboring countries, and end up working in very difficult conditions to send some money home.
80% of the population lives in rural areas and 50% is under 25. Most of secondary education is provided on a fee-paying basis, and is therefore inaccessible to most students, especially in rural areas. Out of 75 students entering school in the provinces, only five will reach high-school.

Key dates

2016: PNC launches the ‘Openh’ Project, a vast program to update the curriculum of the 2-year training.

2011: PNC runs at its maximum capacity: 100 students join the 2-year program every year.

2009: Launch of a new major: Web Programming. PNC also starts collaborating with Digital Divide Data and provides an additional 6-month program (partnership ended in 2014).

2007: Inauguration of PNC building and first graduation ceremony of 20 students (SNA major).

2005: Launch of Passerelles numériques’ first program in Phnom Penh, with 25 students.

Impact

Since 2005, 1,292 students graduated from PNC (472 from the DMO 6-month training and 820 from the 2-year training program). 90% of the 2-year training students find a job within two months after graduating and 100% within three months; they earn an average monthly salary of 215 USD (promotion 2015, four months after graduating), about twice as high as the national minimum salary.

Once they have found a job, all our graduates support their family and their community. On average, our alumni remit 30% of their salary to their families.

Selection

Each year, from February to September, Passerelles numériques’ selection team covers 10 to 24 provinces all over the country and goes through a rigorous 4-step process to select talented and motivated underprivileged youths.

Passerelles numériques successfully collaborates with local high schools and partner NGOs in pre-selecting students, relying on their unique awareness of the economic situation of each student.

A special effort is made to include at least 50% of young women, and beyond that, priority is given to the poorest boys or girls.

Training and education program

At the end of the 2-year training, graduating students receive a PNC certificate and an Associate’s Degree diploma (for the ones who passed the state exam), recognized by the MoEYS. Graduates also have the possibility to carry on studying in year three at University, if they pass the state exam.

We make a continuous effort to improve the quality of our training, adjust it to the needs of a fast changing market and assure our students are as competitive as their university graduate counterparts. Therefore, PN Cambodia launched the ‘Openh’ project in October 2016, a vast program to update the curriculum of our 2-year training answering two main objectives:

To make sure our students gain the soft and hard skills necessary to not only earn a job, but also to advance in their career and be able to self-learn. To do so, we started providing more interactive activities and a student-centered approach, allowing students to take ownership in the learning process.

To improve students English skills as this is a necessary prerequisite for furthering their career.

Web Programming (WEP)

Development process, SEO, usability principles, testing, JQuery and other courses

A general training in professional skills

Passerelles numériques Cambodia also provides an intense curriculum to enhance graduates’ employability. Designed to match local company needs, it focuses on IT practice – via practical projects, English language, professional and soft skills (logical thinking, autonomy, initiative, etc.).

Students have the opportunity to put into practice their IT and soft skills during a four months internship at the end of the training.

Social and educational development

To prepare these young people to become mature and independent adults, we developed a personal development curricula which revolves around PN’s values: trust, responsibility, and solidarity.

Life skills are learned through specially designed modules to ensure personal growth of each student, based on a monthly educational topic (e.g. self-awareness, hygiene and security, communication, environmental consciousness, etc.). This program is supervised by a dedicated team with educators, a counselor, and a nurse.

In order for our students to focus on their intense studies, PNC covers their needs and expenses including:

Moral and educational support: follow-up and counseling throughout their studies

A monthly allowance to cover food and other expenses

Our alumni

Since 2005, 1,169 young people graduated from Passerelles numériques Cambodia and joined the alumni association.

Founded in 2008, PNC Alumni Association organises many activities such as professional workshops, an annual football contest, party, charity trip, etc. They support financially some of PNC’s activities such as the Graduation Ceremony.

PNC Alumni Association also closely supports the External Relations department in the guidance to employment program (internship and job search, training courses for students and leadership skills, entrepreneurship, etc.).

Since 2012, PN Cambodia alumni joined the Solidarity Act program after graduating and finding a job. Each month, they give back a small amount to PNC to contribute to the future generations of students.

Testimonials

I was very lucky to join Passerelles numériques’ Training Program. Studying is very demanding but it’s a great chance for underprivileged young people, especially as Cambodia’s job market gets wider and needs people with IT skills to help boost its operation. Without PNC, I wouldn’t be sitting in my office and wouldn’t be able to support financially my aging parents, my sister’s studies and myself.

Since 3 years, I’ve been working at PN Cambodia as Finance and Human Resource Officer and I feel proud to help young adults in IT sector in Cambodia.

Leakhena NAV

PNC Finance and HR Officer

I think this is a great opportunity for me to enhance my education and maturity. I am so lucky to be here.

Soprom LEM

PNC student, class 2017

Main partners supporting PN Cambodia

Passerelles numériques Cambodia has built through the years a large network of partners who contribute to our success. A large number of companies have subscribed to our innovative model of shared skills sponsorship. Support can be provided through financial or material donations, training, selection, etc.

ANZ Royal Bank has been a sponsor of the first Solidarity Race organized by PN Cambodia to raise funds in 2010. ANZ Royal Bank also financed in 2011 the new library in PN training center in Phnom Penh, as well as bike helmets for students.

Since 2006, Econocom supports Passerelles numériques through a partnership, involving:

Financial support : since 2006, Econocom sponsored 375 students in Cambodia.

Corporate volunteering : since 2006, 105 weeks of mission realized

IT equipment donation.

Enfants d’Asie works with Passerelles numériques in Cambodia and in the Philippines, especially during the selection process.

Enfants du Mékong has been involved since the very beginning of Passerelles numériques’ project in Cambodia in 2005. Bringing digital opportunities to young and disadvantaged people has always been a project that makes senses to an NGO such as Enfants du Mékong that seeks to give not only access to education but also the best chances to get a qualified job. Since then, Enfants du Mékong has kept contributing to PN projects, especially through the selection process in Cambodia and in the Philippines.

Created in 2008, Amanjaya Foundation supports organizations that work to promote access to education for disadvantaged children and young people. Since 2008, Amanjaya Foundation supports Passerelles numériques.

During 2 years, the Fondation de France supports the scholarship of 17 young girls of Passerelles numériques’ Cambodia (2015-2017).

Since 2014, the Haguro endowment fund supports Passerelles numériques' project in Cambodia. For the school year 2016-2017, it contributes to the educational and personal development programme for 50 Cambodian students.

MekongNet provides free internet service for our students and staff in Cambodia.